An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure.

Dehydration, especially when traveling to exotic destinations, is often ignored or mistaken for other maladies, from the flu to food poisoning to a hangover.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Drink plenty of liquids, ideally water.

If you take Acetazolamide (Diamox) as a precaution against altitude sickness, be aware that it’s a diuretic, and increases the risk of dehydration.

Always pack powdered oral rehydration salts or electrolyte solution. Any brand, such as Liquid IV, Gatorade or Pediasure will do.

Recognize the symptoms.

Know the early warning signs: nausea, headache and/or dark urine. Note that feeling thirsty isn’t necessarily a symptom.

More advanced symptoms include lethargy, flu-like achiness, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, fever, irritability, loss of appetite and dry skin.

What to do if you’re suffering from dehydration.

Take rehydration salts or electrolyte solution to replenish fluids and restore the balance of potassium, sodium chloride, sugar and electrolytes.

Rest and avoid strenuous activity.

Recovery time varies, but in most cases you should feel fit as a fiddle in 24 hours.